39 per cent of employers lack mental health strategy: Survey

Less than one-half (39 per cent) of Canada’s employers have implemented a mental health strategy, according to a Conference Board survey.

Employers in the public sector were significantly more likely (47 per cent) than organizations in the private sector (33 per cent) to have indicated implementing a mental health strategy in their workplace.

Those employers that did not implement mental health strategies said it was due to:

limited financial resources, human resources or time (56 per cent)

a lack of knowledge on how to address mental health (32 per cent)

mental health is not an issue in their workplace (31 per cent)

mental health strategies are not a legal or legislative requirement (23 per cent).

Employers in the health, education, finance, insurance and real estate, public administration, and the utilities sectors are more likely to implement a mental health strategy, said the report.

In contrast, employers in traditionally male-dominated industries, like transportation and warehousing, manufacturing, construction, and natural resources, are less likely to have implemented a mental health strategy.

Although 72 per cent of employers believe their programs effectively supported an employee experiencing a mental health issue,only 56 per cent believe their programs proactively help employees maintain their mental health.

Healthy Brains At Work: Employer-Sponsored Mental Health Benefits and Programs is based on a survey of 239 Canadian employers.